It feels like the Summer is coming to an end, despite the unseasonal warm temperatures in the afternoon! The garden is slowing down its production, the leaves are turning, and the nights are drawing in. I am loving the sense of change. The hedgerows are full of goodies, and I have been spotting mushrooms in the fields. I feel ready for the woodburner and the rayburn to get going, and for warmer clothes, hats, and scarves!

But first, I have to harvest all the tomatoes that are just not going to ripen now. I hauled in 9kg of green tomatoes this week, and that can only mean one thing. Green tomato chutney. Lots of it! Thanks to Gemma I narrowed down my recipe search to a couple, and chose one that used the most tomatoes! I have made one batch using 2.5kg and plan to make another. I have also given 3kg away to my Mum, who is probably busy filling jars as I type!

2.5kg chopped green tomatoes and 500g finely sliced onion

I can tell you that chopping 2.5kg of tomatoes and 500g of finely sliced onions is not only time consuming, but very hard work on the hands! I could barely open the pickling vinegar at the end of the process! What a wimp!

Simmering loveliness

I can also tell you that this took 9 hours to reduce down into a chutney like appearance. My house still smells rather vinegary today. But oh my goodness I think (and hope!) it will be worth it.

It's beginning to look a lot like chutney...

The sense of achievement felt when spooning the gooey loveliness into the jars was brilliant. I have been busy looking up Jam recipes and more Chutney recipes - this could be a new love affair in the kitchen :)

Green Tomato Chutney - done.

I absolutely can't wait to sample my hard work in a couple of weeks. I hope it is as tasty as it looks! I'll be trying it with gorgeous West Country Cheddar from the farm that use our milk to make their cheese. Obviously. And maybe a glass or two of wine ;)